Bale-band tightener



(No Model.)

S. STUOKY, Bale Band Tightener'.

No. 234,734. Patented Nov. 23,1880.

1 71, Men 07 N. PETERS PHOTO-LlTHOGRAPH ER, WASHINGTON D c UNITE STATES PATENT (Entree.

STEPHEN STUOKY, OF LINCOLN, ALABAMA.

BALE-BAND TIGHTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 234,734, dated November 23, 1880.

Application filed April 27, 1880.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, STEPHEN STUoKY, of Lincoln, in the county of Talladega, and in the State ofAlabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bale-Band Tighteners; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification.

The nature of my invention consists in the construction and arrangement of a device for tightening the bandsv on cotton-bales, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which myinvention appertains .to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation, referring to the annexed drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side view of a cottonbale and band, with my tightener in position. Fig. 2 is an end View thereof. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the tightener. Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7 are de tails and modifications of the same.

A represents a straight bar of any suitable dimensions, over each end of which is passed a bridle, B, of strap-iron. The strap-iron is doubled over the end of the bar and riveted thereto, and then the doubled iron extended down to a lever, C, to which both bridles are fastened by a bolt, a.

Near the center of the bar A is riveted or otherwise fastened a metal tongue or gripe,D, the inner end of which is beveled, as shown at b, for the easy insertion of the bale-band. Corresponding with this tongue or gripe is an oval button, F, the shank of which passes through the bar A, and has upon its end a handle, 1', for turning the button. The under side of the button is beveled like the tongue or gripe.

To use this band-puller, the button F is first turned across the bar and the end of the baleband at the top of the bale inserted under the tongue or gripe D. The button F is then turned by means of its handle so as to come over the band, which is then griped or held firmly by said tongue and button. The end of the lever O is then inserted in the groove in the lower platen of the press under the lower end of the (No model.)

bale-band. By now pressing down on the lever the lower end of the bale-band is held tightly while the upper end is drawn downward, leaving the two extreme ends of the band perfectly loose and free, so that the operator can throw his leg over the lever andhold the same down, and has use of both hands to fasten the buckle. With this device the band can be so tightened that when the buckle is fastened andthe bale removed from the press there will be but very little expansion of the bale.

As a modification I may make the button F in the'form shown in Figs. 4 and 6, and provide the same with an eccentric, d, which, when the button is turned over the band, will press the band tightly under the tongue or gripeD. The tongue an d button meeting in the center of the band will prevent the same from buckling. U

By attaching the griping devices to a long bar,A,and connecting the ends of this bar by bridles to a lever, as described, there is-always an open space left in which the ends of the bale-band can be manipulated for fastening the buckle without inconvenience from any part of the device itself.

The'inner end of the lever (J is preferably made in the claw shape, as shown in Fig. 7, which will admit of the device beinglused on bales that have already been tied for the purpose of removin g the buckles without destroyin g the band, as the devicemay',be applied in the same manner as above described, and will then hold and press together both ends of the band so as to render the extreme ends, where the buckle is fastened, free and loose, and thereby enable the operator to detach the buckle from the band without cutting.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A cotton-band puller or tightener, consistin g of a lever, O, bridles B B, and a bar, A, provided with gripes for holding one end of the band, substantially as herein set forth.

2. The combination of the bar A, tongue or gripe D, pivoted button F, with or without an eccentric, the bridles B B,and lever G,all constructed substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

3. In a bale-band tightener, along bar, A, In testimony that I claim the foregoing I provided in the center with suitable griping have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of devices, and its ends connected to a single op- April, 1880.

eratin g-lever, substantially as described,wl1ere- STEPHEN STUCKY. 5 by an open space is left in the center for the Witnesses:

tying 0f the buckle, substantially as herein J. J. MCCARTHY,

set forth. H. J. ENNIS. 

